Trust Nobody: Secret Invasion Episode 1 Skrulls Power Rankings

Secret Invasion is here at last! The Disney Plus six episode event is off to the races with a grounded, espionage type theme not seen since Black Widow and Captain America: The Winter Soldier. It has been established right off the bat that viewers should be wary of what they see, because the Skrulls, a shape-shifting race of aliens, could be borrowing a familiar face.

In the series premiere, audiences are introduced to a number of new Skrulls, familiar and unfamiliar alike. As the story progresses over the next six weeks, we will be comparing each of them against their peers. While our Secret Invasion episode 1 Skrull power rankings will only contain seven characters, future installments will have ten total spots up for grabs. As a bonus, we’re also including our top 3 characters who could be revealed to be Skrulls!

*Warning: Spoilers ahead for Secret Invasion episode 1*

In order to qualify for our power rankings a character must be an established Skrull, or impersonated by one during an episode of Secret Invasion. Skrulls that have appeared in previous projects but not in this series will not be included. This means certain characters could be added to the field after a future episode. Without further delay, let’s dive in!

We begin with a confounding question right away: has Agent Everett Ross (Martin Freeman) been a Skrull this whole time? Or, is he perhaps still in Wakanda following the events of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever? Given the fact that Gravik’s group is trying to take the Earth for themselves, it makes sense that Skrulls could be impersonating high ranking U.S. Government agents. Therefore, it’s possible that this (now deceased) Skrull has been posing as the Everett Ross audiences know and love for the past year or so following his escape from custody. Perhaps the real Everett is still kicking back in Wakanda.

Beto (Samuel Adewunmi) isn’t given much screen time following his arrival at New Skrullos, but a veteran TV viewer knows a setup when they see it. Greeted at the gates by G’iah, Beto appears to be a refugee looking for a new home among his fellow Skrulls. Will he be radicalized like others within Gravik’s movement, or will he gravitate towards Talos and try to stop this clandestine invasion? Only time will tell, but it seems likely for Beto to become a key player moving forward.

Gravik’s right-hand man, Pagon (Killian Scott), exhibits behavior that positions him to be more disciple than consigliere. At one point, he remarks to Gravik that he is the cause. Talk about a sycophant! Pagon definitely appears to have Gravik’s trust, which is understandably uncommon among the Skrulls. We don’t know yet if he’s an enforcer or more of a tactical henchman, but his role should be hashed out fairly soon.

Although audiences are more familiar with Talos (Ben Mendelsohn) than his counterparts on this list, he doesn’t crack the top three in our initial power rankings. The version of Talos seen in episode one is disheveled and reeling from the loss of his wife, Soren, as well as his banishment from the Council of Skrulls. His compassion for his own race and for humankind despite Gravik’s radical tendencies is a credit to his character. What audiences have seen from him so far, however, positions Talos as a weaker leader and far less confident compared to past appearances.

There isn’t much of a surprise to the reveal of Poprishchin (Uriel Emil) as a Skrull; given that Gravik wants to eradicate humans, the odds of him sending G’iah to secure explosives from an actual human being seem slim. Posing as a Russian art dealer who also sells arms under the table, Poprishchin easily overpowers Talos and looks like he’ll succeed in killing him until Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) intervenes. Given that he meets his demise, a drop in our rankings is all but certain; but he definitely made a strong first impression.

Khaleesi! Talos’ daughter is now all grown up and finds herself going to war against her dear old Dad. This is the first time G’iah (Emilia Clarke) has appeared as an adult and, as of this moment, it’ss hard to tell where she stands. G’iah appears fully invested in Gravik’s cause until learning of her mother’s passing, which plants seeds of doubt within her mind. She then tips Talos off to Gravik’s plan, only for said plan to turn out to be a decoy. The real question is: was G’iah in on the decoy, or has Gravik played her like a fiddle? This will bear watching as the series progresses.

Not really a surprise, right? Gravik (Kingsley Ben-Adir), who seems to be downright revered by his followers, is Secret Invasion’s primary antagonist and has Talos, Fury and everyone else completely on their heels at the moment. The question that many viewers share after episode one: is Gravik Super Skrull? It’s already been established in trailers that he has been revealed to possess certain abilities not yet seen from other Skrulls within the MCU. Gravik being Super Skrull could also explain why his followers are so devout; his spot near the top of these rankings seems secure moving forward.

A huge reason why Secret Invasion promises to be such a thrill is because they genuinely can’t trust what their eyes are showing them at any given time. Which of these characters are who we believe them to be, and which of them are imposters? To that end, we have identified the three figures most likely to be revealed as Skrulls before the series concludes. This will only include characters who have appeared during episodes of Secret Invasion.

As mentioned before, if the Skrulls are trying to take over the planet, one of the most effective tactics is to infiltrate world governments. When we see President Ritson in Secret Invasion episode 1, he’s being briefed on Agents Fury and Hill going AWOL and does not take kindly to it. Could this be because he’s a Skrull and Fury’s return to Earth poses a threat to their plans? Or is he simply having a bad day? Let’s just say that this lame duck President is under surveillance at the moment.

Admittedly, being distrustful of the director of a shady espionage organization is a bit too on the nose. However, Sonya Falsworth (Olivia Colman) definitely raises some red flags. She doesn’t want Nick Fury getting involved with the Skrull invasion, and basically tells him he’s washed up and to go home. Skrulls are actively trying to take over the planet—she’s aware of this, yet refuses assistance from someone with decades of experience dealing with them. Perhaps this is because she…is one herself? Just like the President, Sonya’s behavior gives her intentions away a bit, and she definitely has the audience’s attention.

Now this pick could make some fans’ blood boil. Rhodey (Don Cheadle) has been a part of the MCU since its birth and is a definite fan favorite. To reveal that Skrulls have infiltrated the Avengers would be a real jaw-dropper. Additionally, considering his rise to prominence within the U.S. Government, Skrull Rhodey could either aid or thwart Gravik’s plan, depending on which side he’s on. Given that Skrulls have been around since the mid-90’s, it’s possible that we’ve never known the real Rhodey.

If the Secret Invasion premiere tells us anything, it’s that nothing is what it seems. While viewers condition themselves to think anyone who appears could be a Skrull, it’s worth noting that this could be exactly what show runner Kyle Bradstreet and Director Ali Selim want them to do. In other words, we’re putty in their hands over the next six weeks.

Stay tuned to the Agents of Fandom socials for all the latest coverage of Secret Invasion, including weekly reviews, news, and interviews!